DU QUOIN -- Quick responses from the Du Quoin Fire Department and the staff at Du Quoin Nursing and Rehabilitation Center averted what could have been a serious incident at the facility on Thursday evening.
A fire call went out at 6:56 p.m. when a fire originated in a laundry dryer operated with natural gas.
According to firefighter Rick Loyd, nursing home staff had the fire under control by the time crews from his department arrived.
Loyd said the staff had put out the fire with an extinguisher. There was minimal damage to the unit.
"Things worked out well," he said. "It could have been a lot worse."
Fire Chief Dave Durkota said that fires of these types have happened before in nursing homes.
"We were very fortunate," said Durkota Thursday evening. "Any time there's a fire in a facility like that it is serious."
Durkota said his department and staff at the home followed protocol, evacuating residents in the north wing.
That evacuation lasted for about 30 minutes, according to Loyd.
Loyd also said there was light smoke and no hospital transfers.
Durkota was quick to point out the extremely quick response by his department.
"We're the only full time, fully-staffed department in Perry County," he said. "We have men and equipment in place to respond immediately."
Durkota said he was "very satisfied" with the actions of everyone involved.
"This was a very minor incident with a very good outcome," he said.
Durkota said his department will meet with nursing home officials this week to review the incident.
"We always use these opportunities with our community partners to learn," he said. "We will review the actions and see where we did good or need improvement."
• John Homan contributed to this story.
